MAKING BEAUTIFUL THINGS MAKES US HAPPY

Some people DIY because they can usually make things cheaper than buying it. Others do so because they like to decorate their homes with the latest trends and styles.
While we love those things as well, they’re not what drive our desire to create and make things. We love the entire process of creating, from planning what to make, the process of doing it as well as the end-product. This is our vice in life – some people would prefer to spend their time shopping, or golfing or travelling. Our preferred pastime is MAKING BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

We’re Jane and Sonja, sisters, moms, craft and DIY addicts and the creators behind Sustain My Craft Habit.

We take any excuse to make things: whether it’s to make a card for a wedding we’re going to, crochet a scarf for a friend’s birthday, bake some cookies to share at the office or start a blog to legitimize our crafting habit, we jump at any the opportunity to express our desire to create.

While this may seem obvious to some, it’s a bit of a revelation for us. Crafting and creating is often perceived as a frivolity, hobby or pastime rather than a real need. Just like getting out and socializing with friends, reading a book, or going to the gym to exercise are real needs, so is this desire to MAKE BEAUTIFUL THINGS for our families, friends and ourselves.

That’s what you’ll find at Sustain My Craft Habit: inspiration, permission and encouragement to express your creativity, to make things just for the sake of making things. Cuz to be happy, #makersgottamake and use #craftastherapy !

On these pages we’ve got you covered with projects ranging from super simple to more complicated. With our detailed tutorials and tips you’ll be saying “I can do this!” with confidence and pride. For some examples of the nature-inspired projects that you’ll find on our web-pages we invite you to pick up our free 18-page ebook “DIY Rustic Decor: 7 Simple Ideas to Infuse Nature into your Home”.

Also, we are proud to host our Craft Habit Social Community to encourage and support each other in creativity. To learn more and join the #CraftHabitSocial head over here.

ABOUT SUSTAIN MY CRAFT HABIT

Based just outside of Toronto, Canada, we launched Sustain My Craft Habit in March 2015 as a bit of a challenge to ourselves, to see if we could decorate our homes using materials available to us, rather than spending a lot of money on them.

We grew up in a home where DIY was the motto: cooking and baking from scratch, growing our own veggies and fruit in our suburban backyard garden, making decor for our rooms and even sewing our own prom dresses. So now, we find items that are in otherwise excellent shape in thrift stores, Freecycle and even the occasional curb. Also, we get so much inspiration from nature, especially the Lake Huron, Ontario beach where our family cottage has been for decades. We love to find creative ways to use and display driftwood, stones, sea glass and those gorgeous coastal colours, often resulting in naturally rustic and nautical pieces.

Even if you don’t have a beach in your backyard from which to collect driftwood, don’t worry: most of our projects can be adapted to use what you have on hand such as branches, twigs, or stones from your property or nearby park.

Many of our projects have been shared on large DIY and craft sites such as Craftgawker, Dwellinggawker and Hometalk and magazines such as Somerset Home and Walmart Live Better.

WE’RE JANE & SONJA

We are two sisters with a love for all things handmade. We spend our weekdays just outside of Toronto, Canada and many of our weekends/holidays at our family cottage on Lake Huron, near Bayfield, Ontario. We’re hoping our shared passion for creating using everyday materials will rub off on you!

JANE

Although I’ve never considered myself to be particularly creative or artistic, I’ve always loved crochet, cross stitch and make cards and gifts for my family and friends. Crafting was, and still is, the creative outlet for my otherwise science-oriented mind. I studied biology and finished my PhD in the neurosciences. I am taking a leave from my career in health research to be home with four fantastic little ones (2 to 10 years of age) and wife to my wonderful husband. They all inspire me and have me wondering and marveling about the world we live and grow in every day.

It is these experiences as a working mom and a creative woman in today’s society that I bring to co-writing the posts on Sustain My Craft Habit. You’ll find simple and practical ideas to bring a little nature in your home and some science thrown in about the beneficial aspects of creativity and making every now and then.

SONJA

Having been raised by very resourceful, creative and energetic parents, DIY was the norm in our home. By the age of 12, I was obsessed with my mom’s sewing machine. And that passion continued which eventually led me to study business and fashion.

These days, I’m a mom to a beautiful and brilliant little girl and work as a product developer within the fashion industry. Making something new and beautiful out of the unexpected is what I love to do and would love to show you how easy it can be, even if you don’t consider yourself to be the DIY or crafty type.

I’ve always appreciated the value of handmade and preferred high-quality over quantity. With this blog I am challenging myself to see if I can continue to make things and decorate my home using materials and techniques that are a little more Earth-friendly. I’d love to show you how to rethink and repurpose all of the treasures we have around us.